A clockwork Bing teddy bear

细节
A clockwork Bing teddy bear
with rich cinnamon mohair, black boot button eyes, pronounced clipped snout, black stitched nose, mouth and claws, operative clockwork moveable head, long jointed shaped limbs, felt pads and key-hole to right side seam --14in. (36cm.) tall, circa 1910 (small moth hole to left foot pad, slight wear to tips of paws and feet)

See Colour Plate 1

拍品专文

Gebrüder Bing

Ignaz and Adolf Bing founded Gebrüder Bing in Nürnberg in 1865 as a tin and kitchenware company. Circa 1890 began production of enamelled tin toys. In 1907 they produced their first teddy bear. Early examples wore a metal arrow in their ear with initial G.B.N. However conflict with Steiff resulted in metal buttons appearing under the arm. Continued conflict with Steiff saw the change in the 'button' altogether and the use of a metal label attched to the arm. Walking, climbing and tumbling clockwork bears made Bing famous.
Bing stopped producing bears in 1932.